Thankful Thursday & What would you do if a reporter showed up at your door??

Hey Friends!

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!! What are you thankful for today??

My list is long....faith, family, great friends, new school year, John's job, football season, and so much more! However, after a month like we've had with the neighborhood fires (recap here), I have to be honest ~ today I'm thanking God big-time for His protection and safety! Knowing that He is in control is what helps me sleep at night!

Also, you wouldn't believe what happened yesterday! I was in the house playing Trouble with my little Sarah. Benj and a friend were in our front yard playing football, and my other daughter had a friend over too. I was just minding my own business, having fun , when I noticed my neighbor was being interviewed by a reporter. I thought to myself, "Whew. I'm so glad that's not me."

(In case you didn't know, I loathe being videotaped. Watching myself on video after a speaking engagement brings out every insecurity in me. Thus the reason I was thrilled my neighbor was in front of the microphone and not me.)

However, the next thing I know, I see the reporter asking Benj if he could go inside and grab his mom. I thought, "Oh no. Please no." I was still in my smelly work-out shirt, no make-up, crazy curly wind blown hair, and still had absolutely NO DESIRE to be on TV.

What would you do??

I went outside, as requested, and the news reporter woman asked if she could ask me a few questions regarding the recent fires, as well as if I had a phone number for our community watch person. I said, "Let me grab that phone number for you."

I came in the house and started praying, "Oh Lord, I don't want to be on TV!! But, what do YOU want?? Look at me, Lord, I'm not dressed or ready ~ BUT....if it will bring YOU glory, I'll do it. Your will, Lord, not mine."

I put on some lip gloss, grabbed a sweatshirt (to cover up my workout shirt), headed outside with the phone number needed and a willing spirit to be used however. I answered the questions, and then spent the rest of the night PRAYING LIKE CRAZY that the interview would bring glory to God, and that if it was also accidentally destroyed in the editing room, that would be ok too. :)

OK True confession ~ after praying it would bring God glory, I also prayed that no one would see it if I looked fat (until my good friend reminded me I wasn't allowed to talk like that since I've declared my life is a Fat Talk Free Zone~ Thanks, Amy, I needed that reminder!)

Anyway, I peeked on the News 8 website shortly before the 11:00 PM news to see if there was a video clip. Although the video segment wasn't ready, there was a written copy of our time together. The title of the article ~ "One family refuses to live in fear".

And this quote from the article made me cry... "We talk about it openly," (Cindy) Bultema said. "We talk about where our hope and our trust is, and that we don't have to be afraid."

Thank You, Lord!! How I wish the article would have finished that sentence (as I shared our hope and faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ), but praise the Lord for even that sentence. It is true ~ in the midst of this craziness with a "serial arsonist" in our neighborhood ~ our hope and trust is in the Lord, and we do not have to be afraid.....and I'm so thankful for that promise today!! :)

You can watch the video clip here.

So there's a little recap of what's going on in my world today. How about for you?? Has God ever asked you to step out of your comfort zone?? How did you respond?? And what are YOU thankful for today?? I'd love to hear from you!!!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Blessings to you, dear bloggy friend!!

My Favorite "Back to School" Tip

Hi Friends ~

Thank you for your prayers regarding the "serial arsonist" in my neighborhood (recap here). I will keep you posted when he/she is caught. In the mean time, please pray for protection and peace for our neighborhood. As you can imagine, nights are sleepless for many families. Thankfully my kids are not "overly anxious", but others have shared the fears and tears their children are experiencing. Oh, may this all end today ~ in Jesus' Powerful Name!!

I've decided to post on a much lighter, joyful subject today. (Light and fun is needed). Here's my all-time favorite, back to school tip. It sure Works for Us! Enjoy!

OK, true confession time...I used to dread afternoons. Especially from about 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM. The big kids would come home from school hungry, the little kids were whiny and irritable, and no one wanted to talk about school. Afternoons were no fun around our house. :(

Then last school year, I decided to try something different. I called it "Tea Time". You should know, we don't drink tea. (I couldn't think of anything else "catchy" to call it). I resolved to make "Tea Time" one of the highlights of our day!

I purchased a colorful tray and little appetizer plates from Target. I stocked our refrigerator with yummy, (semi) healthy snacks and fun drinks. I shared the vision of Tea Time with the kids, and announced that every single day after school, we would have "Tea Time" immediately when the kids got off the bus.

And you know what?? It worked!! My kids walk in the door and say, "What's for Tea Time, Mom?". If their friends are over, they join us (and comment, "I wish we did this at our house"). We share snacks and highlights from school and lots of laughter. I learn about what happened at recess, on the bus, in class. I treasure this time with my kids!

Most importantly, my attitude has changed. I look forward with eager anticipation to 4:00 PM. I delight in thinking what fun snacks I can prepare for my kids. I don't answer the phone during this time. Tea Time is a special, sacred part of my day!

Now I do recognize, it won't last forever. My high schooler Jake has football practice after school, so he doesn't make it for Tea Time very often. But for my 'little ones' (Benj is 9, Amanda is 7, and Sarah is 6) ~ we are building priceless memories!

And hopefully when they think of 'Tea Time', they'll think of a home filled with love, warmth, beauty, and belonging.

A mom can hope anyway...

Here's 3/4 of my Tea Time Gang! :) Don't they just look like fun?!! :)

And my handsome football player....

Tea Time has really Worked For Me!

What about for you?? What has helped your family life run more smoothly?? What favorite "Back to School" ideas have you tried?? I'd love to hear from you!!

And for more great "Works for Me Wednesday" ideas, head over to We Are That Family. You'll be glad you did!

Have a Wonderful Week!! Many blessings to you!!

P.S. The winner of my Lysa TerKeurst Giveaway is Lisa Shaw. (If you are interested in meeting an amazing, joy-filled, encouraging, prayer warrior check out Lisa's ministry.)

Thank you to all who entered! I have more amazing giveaways coming up soon!

Please Pray!!!

Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Press

Hello dear Bloggy Friends ~

I need to interrupt my previously scheduled blog post and ask for your prayers.

I mentioned a few weeks ago there were suspicious garage fires in my neighborhood. So far this summer, 7 garages have caught fire. Praise the Lord no one has been hurt, but the situation obviously has placed a great deal of stress on the families in our quiet little neighborhood.

Last night, my husband John asked if I thought the fires were over. Thankfully, it had been 17 days without any fires. We both hoped (and prayed) the person(s) involved had come to their senses and this whole ordeal was behind us.

Imagine our shock when huge, loud fire trucks began covering our street at 2:30 AM this morning.

Yep - a new fire. This time FIVE houses down from where we live. (Yes, just 5 houses).

Praise the Lord, once again, no one was hurt. (Our friend was up reading in the night, heard a POP, noticed a "glow" across the street, ran and started banging on the door. The owner of the residence was home, but is safe). John joined many of our neighbors outside in the middle of the night as our road was filled with the bright lights of fire trucks, police cars, and neighbors with flash lights.

I don't think many of us got much sleep after the fire trucks pulled away.

Today at the bus stop, on the first day of school, rather than an excitement at the beginning of a new school season, the fires were the topic of conversation. One mom wondered if she should hang a sign on her garage letting "the person" know her 4 children are sleeping right above the garage. John and I wonder if we should sleep elsewhere (our master bedroom is right above our garage). We are practicing fire drills with our children and have safety ladders ready to put into position. We are taking prayer walks around our neighborhood, and many neighbors are sharing they are tense, afraid, and getting little to no sleep each night. We are desperate for Divine intervention.

Early this morning I began praying once again for a miracle. For this person to surrender TODAY, and to be placed where he/she cannot make these destructive choices anymore. For this whole mess to be OVER. For God to redeem all of this for His Kingdom purposes, and for our homes to be filled with peace, laughter, and nights of good rest.

Dear friends, would you please take a minute to pray for this situation? However God might lead you...but our little neighborhood is desperate for a mighty touch of the Father.

Thank you so very much! I look forward to sharing how God answers our prayers very soon!!

God's richest blessings to you~

If I Could, I Would....

Hi Friends!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!! I hope you get a chance to put your feet up this weekend! :)

Beth Moore recently had a great post on her LPM blog called "If I could, I would...". She asked the question, "How would you complete the sentence, “If I could, I would…?" If you were not limited by time, energy, ability, or money, what are those things you would do?"

Beth did set two guidelines:

1. You can only name 3 things.

2. These aren’t regrets. i.e. “If I could, I would…live my whole life again without making that stupid choice.” As Beth says, "We all have plenty of those and they’re not likely to encourage others much"

So I've been trying to think this weekend what I would choose, and I think I finally know!

I would say.... if I could, I would......

1. Distribute Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes with my family.

I've had the chance to participate in distributing OCC shoeboxes twice. The first time was in 2001 at the Saharawi Refuge Camp in Northwest Africa (pictured above). The 2nd time was in 2003 while I was in Cairo, Egypt. We visited orphanages, schools, hospitals, and churches to pass out the shoeboxes to such beautiful, precious children.

Both experiences were absolutely life-changing. If I could, I would spend time passing out the shoeboxes, with John and my kids also sharing the blessing.

2. Write a book

God has placed a burning desire in my heart to write a book. I'm not sure when, if, or how this project will happen, but if I could, I would (if it was God's plan, of course!)

My greatest desire is sharing with others the full, abundant, amazing life that Jesus offers ~ regardless of where we have been or what we have done. I would love to put my passion into a writing project, someday...

(Here's a little secret ~ I have set 2 full days aside this fall to begin the writing process, and a local church filled with amazing, generous leaders is setting aside a room for me write in.... woo hoo!)

3. Share a cup of coffee with each of YOU!

I love hearing how God is working in your lives! One of my greatest joys is receiving your notes, e-mails, comments, and prayer requests. THANK YOU for sharing your journey with me.

If I could, I would LOVE to sit with you over a cup of coffee, hear more of what God is teaching you, pray with you, and remind you how much you are LOVED, VALUED, and BEAUTIFUL ~ just the way that you are!!

Thankfully, God has blessed me to meet some dear bloggy friends over the past few months like Julie Sanders, from Come Have A Peace...

and Lisa Smith, from Glad Chatter....

And if I could, I would add YOU to the list, as well!!

There's my list!! What about you? What would you do, if you could? I'd love to hear from you!!

May your weekend be filled with much love, joy, and life-giving moments!! Blessings to you!!